Keith Allen Fouts, age 84, passed from this earthly life into the presence of his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma with family by his side. He was born on April 14, 1939, in Mound Valley, Kansas to Lillie Pearl (Raymond) and John Allen Fouts. He graduated from Field Kindley High School in 1957. He graduated with an Associate’s degree from Coffeyville Community College in 1960. In 1959, he began as a draftsman at Funk Manufacturing Co. He spent 42 years with Funk before retiring in 2001.
He met the love of his life Barbara Sue (Thurman) in 1958 at Carl’s Service Station where Keith was working. Barbara was babysitting her niece, Cathy Joseph. Keith approached Barbara and asked if he could help her push the stroller and that was the start of their lifelong love story. On October 3,1959 Keith married Barbara. Together they had 3 children, Greg, Bruce and Gina.
While Keith was dating Barbara, he survived a major car wreck that put him in a full body cast. He always felt that by surviving the wreck, God had given him a second chance at life. He used this story as his testimony to share his faith with others around him. He was a passionate believer in Jesus Christ and loved to talk about the return of the Lord. He was known for his gentleness, patience, comfort, and servant heart.
In his younger years, Keith loved the steel guitar and enjoyed playing. He loved riding his motorcycle and his kids love to tell stories of taking bike trips with him. Alongside his career at Funk, Keith and Barbara also owned and managed the Peacock Apartments and other rental properties. Together they enjoyed looking after their tenants and maintaining their rentals. He devoted the first few years of his retirement to his mother, Lillie. He moved her into their home and became her primary caretaker. During his retirement, he also enjoyed traveling with his wife Barbara and spoiling his grandchildren. He enjoyed fishing and rooting for the Chiefs and the Royals. He always had a joke to tell and a smile to share. His jokes often began with uncontrollable laughter that prevented him from ever making it to the punchline. He never made it through a family meal without letting everyone know he stopped eating chicken because it always “left a fowl taste in his mouth”.
Each time his family visited his earthly home, he would stand at the door and wave to them as they drove out of sight. His family will miss him dearly but know without a shadow of a doubt he is eagerly waving to them from Heaven until they too are called to their heavenly home.
He was preceded in death by his parents Lillie and John Fouts, his nephew Rob Fouts, and his niece Stacy Fouts. Keith is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara, their children; Greg, Bruce and wife Denise, Gina Graham and husband Jon, grandchildren; Jennifer (Fouts) Wright and husband Justin, Sarah (Graham) Jaynes and husband Parker, Zachary Graham and wife Kaitlyn, Hannah Graham, Joshua Fouts, Katelyn Fouts, great-grandchildren; Novalie Wright, Kohen Wright, bonus-great-grandchild; Brantley Thurman, great-great-grandchild; Hudson Aleman, brother; Leland and wife Linda Fouts.
Funeral services will be held at Coffeyville First Nazarene Church, 2300 W. 1Street, Coffeyville, Kansas at 10:30am on Saturday, May 20, 2023, Letsinger and Ford Hall will officiate, and committal services will be held at the Veterans Memorial Patio and he will be laid to rest in Fairview Cemetery following the committal. The family will receive friends on Friday, May 19, 2023, at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland Ave. Coffeyville, Kansas from 6 to 8pm. The family request memorial contributions to be made payable to Coffeyville First Nazarene Church and they may be left in care of the chapel. To leave a message of condolence, share a memory or to view services streamed live visit www.fordwulfbrunschapel under his obituary page.
